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DELTAS Africa Learning Research Programme:
Inception Phase Report (Feb-Jul, 2016)
Justin Pulford and Imelda Bates
Capacity Research Unit, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Date of report: August 2016
Report
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Pembroke Place Liverpool L3 5QA United Kingdom www.lstmliverpool.ac.uk
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 4
2. Project staffing & support ................................................................................................................ 5
3. PhD student recruitment .................................................................................................................. 6
4. Proposed workplan, milestones & deliverables ............................................................................... 8
5. Communication & dissemination plan ........................................................................................... 15
6. Potential risks & mitigation ............................................................................................................ 16
Annex 1: Research assistant position description ................................................................................. 19
Annex 2: Project roles and responsibilities and terms of reference...................................................... 21
Annex 3: PhD scholarship position descriptions ..................................................................................... 24
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
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ACRONYMS
AAS African Academy of Sciences
AESA Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa
AFIDEP African Institute for Development Policy
AGM Annual General Meeting
CRU Capacity Research Unit
DELTAS Developing Excellence in Leadership, Training and Science
DFID Department for International Development
IDeAL Initiative to Develop African Research Leaders
LRP Learning Research Programme
LSTM Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
M&E Monitoring & Evaluation
PI Principal Investigator
RMSS Research Management & Support Systems
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
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1. INTRODUCTION
The Wellcome Trust and the Department for International Development (DFID) ‘Developing Excellence
in Leadership, Training and Science (DELTAS)’ initiative aims to improve health in Africa through
research driven by the most urgent regional challenges. Eleven DELTAS research programmes are
currently funded, each involving a consortium of world class researchers led by an African research
institution and all are committed to training the next generation of researchers through programmes
that support women in science, create opportunities for masters, doctoral and post-doctoral
candidates and provide mentorship. By supporting the training of scientists within the continent,
DELTAS Africa is seeking to stem the ‘brain drain’ of the best African scientists and promote Africa-led
development of world class research leaders to solve the continent’s most pressing health needs. The
scheme will run for five years, but fits into a longer term strategy with a 20 year time horizon.
The Learning Research Programme (LRP), led by the Capacity Research Unit (CRU), the Liverpool
School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), will work alongside DELTAS Africa consortia to produced research-
based learning about how to train and develop world-class researchers, foster their careers and
collaborations, and promote research uptake. Specifically, the LRP will draw on the collective
experience of the DELTAS Africa initiative to generate and share robust evidence in the following three
thematic areas:
1. promote equitable career pathways for internationally competitive African researchers
including women and other under-represented groups
2. improve strategies for, and the quality of, institutionalised research training and identify
synergies among African and partner (public and private) institutions
3. encourage researchers to do research that is needed and contributes to socio-economic
development
The LRP team expect to contribute to the success of the DELTAS Africa initiative by providing relevant
findings to consortia members during the course of their respective project implementation as well as
advancing current understanding of best practice in global health research capacity strengthening.
The LRP will be led by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in close partnership with the Alliance
for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA), the African Institute for Development Policy
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
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(AFIDEP) and all DELTAS Africa consortia. Findings from the DELTAS LRP will be further assessed
alongside those of similar learning programmes carried out by the LSTM, including for the Royal
Society – DFID Africa Capacity Building Initiative, to allow cross-learning from multiple consortia-based
research capacity strengthening initiatives.
The DELTAS LRP has received initial funding for a six-month inception phase (Feb-Jul, 2016) following
which, if successfully completed, more extensive funding to initiate the collection, analysis and
reporting of data relevant to the three thematic areas will be awarded for a four year period (Aug
2016 – Jul 2020). This report presents an up-to-date review of project outcomes achieved during the
six-month inception phase. The report is structured according to the primary objectives of the
inception phase as described in the approved LRP proposal, including the sub-sections: project staffing
and support; PhD student recruitment; proposed workplan, milestones and deliverables; and
communication and dissemination plan.
2. PROJECT STAFFING & SUPPORT
Key aims of the inception phase were to finalise staffing structures within the LSTM DELTAS LRP team,
formalise roles and responsibilities with all LRP team members, including team members from
partnering organisations, define terms of references for the LRP advisory board and for the
partnership between LSTM and AESA and finalise contracts where required.
Figure 1 presents the latest version of the LRP organogram. As can be seen, all staff positions and
partners have been identified with the exception of the research assistant for Theme 2 (Research
Training). LSTM advertised the research assistant position over a four week period across May and
June and had anticipated making a formal offer to a suitable candidate in late July, 2016, following
short-listing and interviews (job description is listed in Annex 1). As stated in the job description, the
research assistant position requires a francophone speaker based primarily in Liverpool, UK, with up
to a six-week placement at the Institut Pasteur, France, per annum. Despite including the job-advert
on all standard LSTM recruitment forums and circulating the position description across our collective
networks (including those of the Institut Pasteur), the advertisement failed to attract a sufficient
response. Only two applications for the research assistant position were received, possibly because
recruitment coincided with the Brexit referendum, and neither were considered suitable for interview.
LSTM have now re-advertised the position for an additional four week period both inside and outside
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
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of the European Union (the original advertisement was restricted to citizens of the European Union
only). We remain hopeful of making an appointment within the final quarter of 2016.
Figure 1. LRP Organogram
Annex 2 presents the defined roles and responsibilities for all project team members, as well as the
Terms of Reference for advisory panel members and the LSTM-AESA partnership.
3. PHD STUDENT RECRUITMENT
The DELTAS LRP includes funding to support two PhD scholarships. As noted in the project workplan
(below), the ‘equitable career’ and ‘research uptake’ thematic areas are designed to be completed
Steering Group
AESA/DFID/Wellcome Trust
Principal Investigator
Imelda Bates, LSTM
Theme 1. Equitable Career Pathways
Rachel Tolhurst, LSTM
PhD
Millicent Liani
Theme 2. Research Training
Golbahar Pahlavan, Institut Pasteur
Research Asst
TBA
Theme 3. Research Uptake
Collins Ouma, AFIDEP
PhD
Violet Murunga
Deputy PI
Justin Pulford, LSTM
Administration
Lorelai Silvester, LSTM
Denise Wellings, LSTM
LRP Advisory Panel
Donald Cole, UoToronto
Diana Coates, UoKwaZulu-Natal
Peter Donker, KNUST Ghana
Flemming Konradsen, UoCopenhagen
AESA
DELTAS Consortia
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
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within the framework of a PhD project driven by the respective LRP PhD candidates under the
supervision of senior project members. The two PhD positions were advertised for a four week period
during May, 2016. As noted in the position descriptions (Annex 3), the scholarships were only open to
African nationals and required the successful applicants to be based at an African academic/research
institution for the majority of the PhD programme (LSTM ‘off-site’ PhD scholarship). A total of 120
applications, from 17 African nations, were received for the two scholarships. Figures 2 and 3 present
the number of applicants for each position by country and by sex.
Figure 2. Number of applicants for the ‘Equitable Careers’ PhD scholarship by country and sex
Figure 3. Number of applicants for the ‘Research Uptake’ PhD scholarship by country and sex
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Female
Male
0
5
10
15
20
25
Female
Male
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
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The LRP Deputy PI, Dr Justin Pulford, completed an initial screen of all applications and created a ‘long
list’ of the 20 most suitable applicants for each position. A selection panel, consisting of LSTM, AFIDEP
and AESA representatives, then proceeded to identify the top five applicants for each scholarship. The
top five applicants for both scholarships were then invited to a formal interview at the Intercontinental
Hotel, Nairobi, 4th July, 2016 (scheduled to coincide with the DELTAS AGM). The interview panel again
consisted of LSTM, AFIDEP and AESA representatives and each applicant was required to complete a
15 minute written task designed to assess analytical ability and quality of written English as well as a
structured 30 minute interview. Of the 10 interviewees, four were from Kenya, three from Ghana,
and one each from Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Seven were female and three male. At the
conclusion of the interviews, the interview panel met and unanimously agreed on the top two
candidates for each scholarship. The interview panel further agreed that all four of these candidates
were exceptional PhD prospects. The final decision for candidate selection (from the top two for each
position) was made by the primary supervisor for the respective PhD scholarship. Both of the
preferred applicants, Ms Millicent Liani (Equitable Careers) and Ms Violet Murunga (research Uptake),
accepted the scholarship offer in principle. LSTM are currently working through the formal PhD
registration processes which should be concluded within a 3-month period (see timeline, next
section).
In a further development, LSTM in collaboration with the DELTAS Africa IDeAL consortium are
currently exploring the possibility of extending complementary PhD scholarship opportunities to the
two applicants (one each for the equitable career and research uptake thematic areas) who were rated
exceptional PhD prospects, but for whom a formal offer was not initially made, during the LRP
scholarship recruitment process. If successful, this will increase the outputs and learning
opportunities from the LRP as well as contributing to the IDeAL’s aims of developing the careers of the
most promising young African scientists across a broad range of health disciplines.
4. PROPOSED WORKPLAN, MILESTONES & DELIVERABLES
The workplans for each of the three DELTAS LRP thematic areas are discussed below along with the
proposed deliverables and projected timeline. However, the workplans remain provisional at present
as PhD appointments have yet to be finalised and their input will be essential to informing the final
study objectives. The respective study designs will not be finalised until the study objectives have been
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
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agreed. Every effort will be taken to ensure data collection activities complement (and do not
duplicate) routine M&E reporting requirements of the DELTAS consortia.
THEME 1: EQUITABLE CAREER PATHWAYS.
Female scientists are increasingly under-represented at each stage of the scientific career ladder (i.e.
the ‘leaky pipeline’):1 only 48% of women were still working in academia three years after their Trust-
funded PhD compared with 93% of men.2 Women are significantly under-represented among African
academic staff and decision-making bodies.3 Little is known about career outcomes for other under-
represented groups (e.g. people with disabilities; those for whom English is not their first language;
ethnic, religious or regional minorities). Research career tracks favour traditional male career patterns
creating challenges in balancing career progression with child-rearing, career breaks and caring roles.
4 Compared to men, women have less professional social capital, less international mobility and more
gender-based harassment. 5 Lack of physical access and support for people with disabilities is common.
This theme will provide information about how to improve and track research career equity.
Potential research questions
Are there any biases in the current criteria and processes for selecting and promoting individuals with
potential to be effective and excellent researchers and/or research leaders?
How do the peer networks created by PhD/Masters cohorts function both during and after training,
and can they be utilised to promote equity?
Where are the critical leak points along the career pathway? What strategies could help under-
represented groups to transition across these points successfully?
How do institutional environments, including values, policies, and their implementation shape
inequities in career progression and how can these be improved to promote equity?
What are the ‘informal rules’ in intersectional power hierarchies, how do these limit equitable
progression and what strategies could improve this?
1 Thege B, et al. Pathways to Career and Success for Women in Science. Springer 2014
2 http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/stellent/groups/corporatesite/@msh_peda/documents/web_document/wtp056700.pdf
3 Johnson AT. Performing and defying gender: An exploration of the lived experiences of women higher education administrators in sub-Saharan Africa. Educational Management Administration & Leadership. 2014 42(6),835–850
4 Xie, Y., and K. A. Shauman. 2003. Women in Science: Career Processes and Outcomes. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. 5 Miller BP, et al. Gender and Science in Developing Areas: Has the internet reduced inequality? Social Science Quarterly,87(3),2006.
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
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Workplan
Activities will be completed within the frame of a theme-specific PhD project. Study objectives will be
determined by the PhD candidate in consultation with her supervisor, the LRP principal investigators,
the LRP advisory board panel and AESA. The study objectives will be further designed to complement
existing DELTAS data sources as well as the underlying ‘Theory of Change’. It is anticipated that the
final study objectives will be broadly consistent with the research questions presented above. Given
budget and time constraints, data collection is likely to consist of a mix of the following activities:
secondary analysis of routinely reported data sources; qualitative investigation in purposively selected
consortia or with purposively selected individuals within consortia and strategic partners/audiences
of consortia; and self-administered surveys conducted with consortia members and/or strategic
partners/audiences of consortia. The study design will be further influenced by the underlying intent
to provide project deliverables during the course of the DELTAS initiative and by the stipulations of
the LSTM PhD programme. The proposed activities, deliverables and timeline are presented in Figure
4.
PhD Supervisors: Dr Rachel Tolhurst (LSTM), Dr Stefanie Gregorius (LSTM), Supervisor based at Nairobi
University to be identified. PhD Candidate: Ms Millicent Liani (Kenya)
THEME 2: RESEARCH TRAINING.
Most training for researchers and PhD students in Africa is provided through international projects
and focuses on technical skills, though the importance of ‘soft’ skills (e.g. leadership, supervision,
mentorship, communication) is increasingly recognised.6 We found common gaps in African
universities’ research training capacity including insufficient and/or inexperienced supervisors,
unstructured research skills training, insufficient infrastructure for training by doing research and
inadequate development of critical thinking skills (case study 6.1).7 Despite African universities’ limited
doctoral training capacity, unstructured programmes and viva delays, many require lecturers to have
a PhD. Unless research training quality and research infrastructure improve to allow productive
scientific careers aligned with expertise and experience, PhD qualifications risk becoming de-valued
with detrimental consequences for long-term research prospects. This theme will identify research
training needs and existing courses (including on-line) for researchers at all career stages, document
6 Cole DCC et al. Mentoring health researchers globally: Diverse experiences, programmes, challenges and responses, Global Public Health, 2015,DOI:10.1080/17441692.2015.1057091
7 Bates I, et al Assessing and strengthening African universities' capacity for doctoral programmes. PLOS Medicine 2011,8(9):e1001068.
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
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quality and opportunities for synergy, and promote a systematic approach to embedding high-quality
courses within African institutions.
Potential research questions
What training do researchers want and need? How can critical thinking skills be nurtured?
What is the availability of research training courses (Anglo- and Franco-phone) across Africa?
What is the quality of these courses and how can it be measured?
How can efforts to provide research training be synergised (possibly through AESA) and duplication
avoided?
What are the barriers to productive scientific collaborations across Africa?
Mentoring: How can the evaluation of scientific careers take into account parameters other than only
publication/impact factor-based ones and include contributions to the development of excellence and
leadership: e.g. career development of the PhDs supervised, systematic tracking and development of
metrics including those reaching leadership positions.
Which partnerships should be sought in order to forecast future demand for scientific training and
expertise?
Workplan
Activities within this theme will be completed by a project-specific research assistant under the
supervision of senior researchers from LSTM and the Institut Pasteur. Study objectives will be
determined by the senior researchers, the LRP principal investigator, the LRP advisory board panel
and AESA. However, it is anticipated that the final study objectives will be broadly consistent with the
research questions presented above. Data collection is likely to consist of a mix of the following
activities: a stocktake of relevant training courses/programmes in Anglophone Africa (to complement
existing record already obtained for Francophone Africa); secondary analysis of routinely reported
data sources; qualitative investigation in purposively selected consortia or with purposively selected
individuals within consortia and strategic partners/audiences of consortia; and self-administered
surveys conducted with consortia members and/or strategic partners/audiences of consortia. The
study design will be further influenced by the underlying intent to provide project deliverables during
the course of the DELTAS initiative (rather than at its conclusion). The proposed activities, deliverables
and timeline are presented in Figure 4.
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Research Assistant Supervisors: Dr Justin Pulford (LSTM), Dr Golbahar Pahlavan (Institut Pasteur).
Research Assistant: Recruitment currently ongoing.
THEME 3: RESEARCH UPTAKE
In Africa research uptake for decision-making is weak due to supply- and demand-side bottlenecks.
Much research is untimely, not focused on national socio-economic priorities and irrelevant to
knowledge needs of decision-makers and the public because of limited interaction between producers
and users of research when conceptualizing research questions.8 Supply-side research is fragmented
across many scientific journals and researchers lack skills to synthesise and package it appropriately
for decision-makers. Research competes with values, politics and personal interests to inform policy
decisions and policymakers may lack motivation and skills to access, appraise and apply research
findings.9,10 There is limited evidence about the most effective strategies (e.g. social media, private
sector partnerships) to close the gap between research generation, and policies and programmes. This
theme will assess the effectiveness of DELTAS consortia focusing on public health issues, in improving
public awareness and research and evidence-informed policy making by decision-makers. For
consortia focusing on basic science and technology, LRP emphasis will be on assessing effectiveness
of activities to promote uptake of new skills and knowledge.
Potential research questions
How are national health research priorities incorporated (or not) into DELTAS health research
programmes?
What mechanisms work best for research uptake and what is the strength of evidence?
What mechanisms work best for uptake of new skills and knowledge and what is the strength of
evidence?
What are the contextual and individual factors that have enabled some researchers to be highly
successful in influencing policy and research uptake?
8 Innvaer, S et al Health policy-makers’ perceptions of their use of evidence: a systematic review. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy 2002,7(4),239–244 9 WHO (2007) Sound Choices: Enhancing Capacity for Evidence-Informed Health Policy. http://www.who.int/alliance-hpsr/resources/Alliance_BR.pdf
10 Oliver, K., et al A systematic review of barriers to and facilitators of the use of evidence by policymakers. BMC Health Services Research 2014,14:2
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
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Workplan
Activities will be completed within the time frame of a theme-specific PhD project. The PhD candidate
in consultation with his/her supervisor, the LRP principal investigators, the LRP advisory board panel
and AESA, will determine study objectives. The study objectives will be further designed to
complement existing DELTAS data sources as well as the underlying ‘Theory of Change’. It is
anticipated that the final study objectives will be broadly consistent with the research questions
presented above. Given budget and time constraints, data collection is likely to consist of a mix of the
following activities: secondary analysis of routinely reported data sources; qualitative investigation in
purposively selected consortia or with purposively selected individuals within consortia and strategic
partners/audiences of consortia; and self-administered surveys conducted with consortia members
and/or strategic partners/audiences of consortia. The study design will be further influenced by the
underlying intent to provide project deliverables during the course of the DELTAS initiative (rather
than at its conclusion) and by the stipulations of the LSTM PhD programme. The proposed activities,
deliverables and timeline are presented in Figure 4.
PhD Supervisors: Prof. Collins Ouma (AFIDEP), Dr. Rose Oronje (AFIDEP), Dr. Justin Pulford (LSTM).
PhD Candidate: Ms Violet Murunga (Kenya)
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
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Figure 4. LRP Activities & Deliverables Timeline (projected start date August 2016)
Activities Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4
Theme 1: Equitable Careers PhD registration Protocol development Ethics submissions
Data collection
Data analysis & writing Thesis first draft Thesis revision Thesis submission
Theme 2: Training Protocol development Data collection Data analysis & writing Theme 3: Research Uptake PhD registration Protocol development Ethics submissions Data collection Data analysis & writing Thesis first draft Thesis revision Thesis submission
Deliverables Quarterly newsletters Annual ‘learning’ report Interim ‘aims & outcomes’ rep DELTAS AGM presentation Conference presentation LRP Publications* Final report
* Refer to ‘publications list’ for proposed publications and order of submission
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
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5. COMMUNICATION & DISSEMINATION PLAN
The project team anticipate producing a range of outputs during the course of the LRP,
including (as stated in the proposed timeline) quarterly newsletters, annual ‘learning’ reports,
presentations at DELTAS AGM and relevant conferences, LRP publications in peer-reviewed
journals and a final technical report. The project team, in collaboration with AFIDEP, Institut
Pasteur and AESA have developed the provisional publication plan listed in Figure 5 below.
Figure 5. Proposed DELTAS LRP Publications*
Theme Proposed Title Proposed Submission
Date
Equitable Careers Enablers and barriers to equitable career advancement
in science: A review of the international literature August 2017
Equitable Careers
Identifying critical points in the ‘leaky pipeline’ of
research careers and strategies to support career
progression by under-represented groups in African
research institutions: a mixed-methods study
August 2018
Equitable Careers
Understanding the role of institutional environments
and informal rules in intersectional power hierarchies
in shaping equity in research career progression in
African academic institutions
June 2019
Training The self-reported research training priorities of African
scientists June 2018
Training Training the next generation of African researchers:
overview of existing programs June 2018
Training From PhD to PI: metrics for research and public health
training and leadership June 2019
Research Uptake Enablers and barriers to research uptake in Africa: A
review of the published literature August 2017
Research Uptake
The contextual and individual factors that enable
successful use of research evidence to influence policy
and research uptake in Africa
August 2018
Research Uptake Mechanisms and strengths of evidence that promote
research uptake in Africa June, 2019
Overarching Using consortiums to strengthen health research
capacity in Africa: Views from consortia members December 2018
Overarching
Aims and outcomes of the DELTAS Africa Learning
Research Programme and recommendations for future
work
August 2019
* All titles are provisional and may change pending study design and outcomes.
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
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Authorship on all papers will follow standard conventions for peer-reviewed publication in
academic journals. In addition, a supplementary budget is currently under review to support
physical attendance at DELTAS AGM and International Conferences during the course of the
LRP for the purpose of disseminating key project findings as they emerge. All ‘learning’ reports
will be submitted to Wellcome Trust, DFID and AESA on an annual basis (refer to timeline for
projected dates). As stated in the respective Terms of Reference, AESA will be invited to
comment on all proposed publications prior to submission and, pending Wellcome Trust and
DFID approval, AESA will also assume responsibility for disseminating key findings across
DELTAS consortia and other relevant African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and international
networks.
6. POTENTIAL RISKS & MITIGATION
Potential risks are listed below along with mitigating actions.
PhD students do not complete their work to a satisfactory level or do not adhere to the
project timeframes:
Two of the three LRP thematic areas (equitable careers and research uptake) have been
developed as PhD projects and their successful completion will in large part rely on the
performance of the respective PhD candidates. Accordingly, a rigorous selection process was
employed to ensure competent, committed and professional PhD candidates were recruited.
The two successful candidates, Ms Millicent Liani and Ms Violet Murunga, have considerable
professional experience, impressive academic records, demonstrated excellent written and
verbal communication skills and are following career pathways appropriate to their respective
thematic areas. The interview panel, comprised of representatives from LSTM, AESA and
AFIDEP, unanimously supported their appointments. In addition, the ‘equitable careers’ PhD
candidate, Ms Millicent Liani, will be directly supervised by the thematic leader, Dr Rachel
Tolhurst, and her co-supervisor, Dr Stefanie Gregorius, is line-managed by Prof. Imelda Bates,
the DELTAS LRP PI. Similarly, the ‘research uptake’ PhD candidate, Ms Violet Murunga, will be
directly supervised by the thematic leader, Prof. Collins Ouma, and co-supervised by Prof.
Bates and Dr Justin Pulford (DELTAS LRP Deputy PI). Thus, the progress of the PhD candidates
will be directly monitored by senior DELTAS LRP team members who will be in position to
intervene as necessary to ensure project deliverables are met. The DELTAS LRP PI and Deputy
PI will be in a strong position to communicate potential threats to project deliverables and/or
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
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timeframes arising from PhD-related performance to the LRP stakeholders at the earliest
opportunity if any such issues do eventuate.
Relevant data are not accessed, data collection opportunities are missed or data collection
is duplicated.
A wide range of data collection activities, informing diverse objectives, will take place during
the course of the DELTAS Africa initiative. Examples include routine reporting of standard
progress and performance indicators by each consortia to AESA, consortium-level data
collection relevant to their respective programmes and DELTAS LRP specific data collection.
The DELTAS LRP programme needs to be aware of relevant data from existing sources, have
the means to access them, as well as the awareness and means to ‘tag on’ to routine- or non-
LRP specific data collection opportunities as they arise. Any failure to access available data,
or data-collection opportunities, may undermine the effectiveness of the LRP or result in
unnecessary duplication of data collection efforts. To mitigate this risk, the LRP Deputy PI (Dr
Pulford) will maintain a close dialogue with Ms Evelyn Namubiru-Mwaura, AESA Strategy &
Policy Manager, and Ms Josephine Karuri, AESA M&E Manager, and will oversee all LRP-
specific data collection activities. Dr Pulford, in consultation with Ms Namubiru-Mwaura and
Ms Karuri, will identify all known, accessible data sources within the DELTAS initiative and
inform LRP colleagues. In this way, potentially relevant data sources can be identified,
accessed (where appropriate) and incorporated into the respective LRP study designs. In
addition, Dr Pulford will communicate planned LRP data collection activities to Ms Namubiru-
Mwaura and Ms Karuri well in advance in order to coordinate with AESA or consortia-related
data collection activities and/or to integrate with planned activities where possible.
Learning opportunities are missed due to poor communication
A primary purpose of the DELTAS LRP is to identify and share relevant ‘learnings’ as they
emerge in order to inform continuous programme planning and improvement during the
course of the DELTAS Africa initiative. Potential learning opportunities will be lost if emergent
lessons are not communicated to the right audiences at the right time. To mitigate this risk,
the LRP team will establish and maintain multiple communication and reporting channels
during the course of the project. This includes the provision of quarterly newsletters to all
stakeholders, annual ‘learning’ reports, an interim ‘aims and objectives’ report timed to
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
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inform the DELTAS mid-term review, peer-reviewed publications, presentations at annual
DELTAS meetings and conference presentations as appropriate. The LRP team plan to
implement quarterly meetings with AESA and are committed to the general principle of
sharing any findings of immediate relevance to stakeholders at the earliest opportunity. In
addition, the LRP team will continue to share findings from non-LRP programmes with
relevant DELTAS stakeholders as appropriate and as evidenced by the recent circulation of
RMSS project reports.
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ANNEX 1: RESEARCH ASSISTANT PO SITION DESCRIPTION
Job Description
Post: Research Assistant (francophone)
Department: International Public Health
Location: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Responsible to: Justin Pulford, Senior Lecturer
The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine is one of the few academic organisations with expertise in
conducting research into the effectiveness and impact of capacity strengthening. LSTM’s Capacity Research
Unit (CRU) is led by Professor Imelda Bates who, along with her team, is responsible for research into the
technical design, implementation and tracking of capacity strengthening activities in health and development
programmes. The CRU team work in collaboration with funders of research and development projects, as
well as with researchers, implementers and decision-makers in many countries, predominantly in sub-
Saharan Africa.
We are recruiting a Research Assistant to support a number of CRU projects, particularly the DELTAS Learning
Research Programme. The DELTAS LRP is a four year programme which aims to produce research-based
learning from the DELTAS research capacity building initiative about how to train and develop world-class
researchers, equitably foster their careers and collaborations and promote research uptake. The RA will
primarily contribute to the Research Training theme of the programme. The successful candidate will also
contribute to CRU’s other projects which aim to build research capacity of partner organisations, at both the
individual and institutional level, using a variety of evidence-informed approaches.
Key Duties
With other team members, identify research training needs and existing African-based courses (including on-line) for African researchers at all career stages, document training quality and opportunities for synergy among African training providers, and promote a systematic approach to embedding high-quality courses within African institutions.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with project partners
Routinely collect evidence on Anglophone and Francophone DELTAS awardees relating to which strategies are effective for strengthening research training in African settings
Use in-depth methods, such as site-visits and interviews, to explore emerging themes in detail
Conduct literature reviews and develop or adapt data collection tools for use during visits to African institutions to assess existing capacity.
With other CRU team members, conduct visits to African institutions to identify existing capacity and solutions to address capacity gaps.
Produce or contribute to project progress reports for submission to clients.
Liaise with other CRU team members, to ensure cross-fertilisation with other CRU projects.
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
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Draft articles for publishing in scientific journals and/or abstracts for presentation at international conferences
Attend and contribute to CRU team meetings.
Represent the CRU as appropriate to raise the Unit’s profile both within LSTM and externally.
Person Specification
Criteria Competency Essential/
Desirable
Education &
training
Masters degree in a health or health related discipline E
Experience
Ability to develop data collection methods to capture qualitative and
quantitative data.
E
Skills and
abilities
Fluency in French
Excellent organizational skills, especially setting priorities, managing
time, attention to detail and working to and meeting deadlines
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to work both collaboratively
and independently
Proficient in MS Office Software especially Excel and Word and
PowerPoint
E
E
E
E
E
Knowledge Understanding of capacity building and health systems programmes in
developing countries
Knowledge of research processes involved in capacity strengthening
Familiarity with software for analyzing qualitative data
D
D
D
Approach Demonstrate a confident, enthusiastic, positive and energetic
approach, with a willingness to get involved in all aspects of the
projects
Able to work independently and as part of a team
E
E
Circumstances Availability for travel overseas, including approximately 6 weeks per
year at partner institution in France (Paris)
E
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
21
ANNEX 2: PROJECT ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND TERMS OF REFERENCE
Roles & Responsibilities, LRP Colleagues
Principal Investigator, Imelda Bates:
Provide technical assistance to the deputy PI and/or programme members as required.
Participate in the development of programme workplans, milestones and deliverables.
Review programme reports and publications and provide feedback as required.
Provide final approval to all workplans, milestones and deliverables.
Participate in all interactions with the LRP advisory board and steering group members.
Provide high level support and intervention where required to ensure deliverables are met in
accordance with agreed timeframes.
Provide all interim and final reports to project funders.
Deputy Principal Investigator, Justin Pulford:
Establish and maintain effective communication with the LRP team and all programme partners,
including advisory board members, AESA, AFIDEP, Institut Pasteur, DFID and the Wellcome Trust.
Facilitate the overall development of programme workplans, milestones and deliverables in
consultation with the PI, theme leaders, advisory board and project partners.
Monitor programme activities against agreed deliverables and timeframes.
Facilitate meetings as required and/or stipulated in support of programme activities and deliverables.
Coordinate and streamline cross-theme activities.
Ensure completion of programme-level workplans, milestones and deliverables in accordance with
agreed timeframes.
Provide technical support to PhD students and line manage research assistant
Review theme-specific reports and publications and provide feedback as required.
Amalgamate theme-specific publication strategies and identify complementary programme-level
publications in consultation with the PI, theme leaders and advisory board.
Ensure completion of programme-level publications in accordance with agreed review and submission
dates.
Administration, Lorelei Silvester, Denise Wellings:
Provide general administrative support to LRP team members and partners as required.
Organise meetings as required.
Monitor expenditures against budget on a monthly basis.
Prepare and disseminate programme-level financial reports in accordance with agreed deliverables and
reporting dates.
Ensure the LRP complies with all relevant LSTM policies and procedures.
Facilitate the recruitment and selection of the two PhD students and the research assistant.
Research Theme Leaders, Rachel Tolhurst, Golbahar Pahlavan, Collins Ouma:
Lead the development of theme-specific workplans, milestones and deliverables in consultation with
the PI, deputy PI, advisory board and project partners.
Draft theme-specific publication strategy, ensuring staggered outputs, in consultation with the PI,
deputy PI and advisory board.
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
22
Assist LSTM in the advertisement and recruitment of respective PhD students or research assistant.
Provide supervision and technical support to respective PhD students/research assistant, ensuring
compliance with all relevant organisational and programme policies and procedures.
Ensure completion of theme-specific workplans, milestones and deliverables in accordance with agreed
timeframes.
Ensure completion of theme-specific manuscripts in accordance with agreed review and submission
dates.
Participate in programme level meetings, workshops and dissemination activities and/or provide
relevant theme-specific information to programme partners as required.
PhD Students (Millicent Liani & Violet Murunga), Research Assistant (to be determined):
Develop theme-specific study-design, data collection and analysis methodologies in consultation with
their respective supervisor, PI, deputy PI, advisory board and project partners.
Lead the required ethical approval processes for their respective study/data collection plan in
consultation with their supervisor and deputy PI.
Collect theme-specific data and conduct analysis using approved methodologies in consultation with
their respective supervisor.
Contribute to theme-specific manuscript and report preparation as directed by their respective
supervisor.
Participate in programme level meetings, workshops and dissemination activities and/or provide
relevant theme-specific information to programme partners as directed by their respective supervisor.
Terms of Reference, LRP Advisory Panel Members
Advisory board functions:
Participate in the development of programme workplans, milestones and deliverables by providing high
level inputs based on past experience and expertise.
Act as a sounding board for research approaches and emerging findings.
Provide strategic advice on mitigating potential or actual obstacles to LRP completion and to facilitating
the greatest possible impact from LRP findings.
Provide oversight to identify inter-theme links and exploit synergies within and beyond LRP, especially
within their diverse networks.
Review draft publications/outputs to enhance quality; guide publication and dissemination strategies.
Management and support:
The aforementioned activities will primarily be completed by desk review and/or participation in
scheduled conference calls.
Advisory panel members may be approached for individual comment if an issue arises in which it is
known he/she has a particular expertise.
LSTM will endeavour to provide sufficient notice (minimum of 2 weeks) for all activities and will limit the
expected contribution of each advisory panel member to a maximum of 15 working days across the
duration of the LRP.
LSTM will share background documents, publications and reports relating, or relevant to, the DELTAS
LRP with all advisory board members and ensure they are sufficiently informed to meaningfully
contribute in their advisory capacity.
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
23
Terms of Reference, LSTM-AESA LRP Partnership
LSTM will work closely with AESA by:
Involving AESA in all LRP stages including designing methods, data collection and tools, on-site visits,
data analysis and production of outputs, and in LRP team meetings
During the inception phase, establish a close working relationship with key individuals in AESA
including the Director, and staff responsible for strategic planning and M&E
Throughout the LRP, support AESA colleagues to take forward high-level strategic issues that are
important for science in Africa but which are beyond the scope of the LRP
Including AESA in the development of the LRP publication plan, in the preparation of manuscripts as
appropriate (based on mutually agreed publication plan) and in the dissemination of project outputs
(e.g. technical reports, policy briefs)
AESA’s contribution to LRP:
Participate in the development of programme workplans, milestones and deliverables by providing
high level inputs based on past experience and expertise.
Act as the central liaison between LRP team members and DELTAS consortia.
Have a process for considering high-level (i.e. institutional, national, regional) issues emerging from the
LRP, whom to share them with and how best to do this.
Provide information such as programme documents, workplans and M&E data to LRP team. AESA staff,
particularly those involved in strategy and M&E, will therefore need to work closely with LRP
Assist with the recruitment and selection of PhD students.
Dissemination of LRP findings within and beyond DELTAS is critical. AESA, therefore, will assist with
communicating LRP findings to deltas participants, and supporting LRP sessions at annual DELTAS
meetings and at relevant international meetings.
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
24
ANNEX 3: PHD SCHOLARSHIP POSITIO N DESCRIPTIONS
Post: PhD Scholarship, Equitable Careers
Responsible to: Dr. Rachel Tolhurst, LSTM, Liverpool, UK.
Summary of role: Complete a PhD examining barriers and enablers to gender equitable
scientific career pathways in African research institutions.
Background: The DELTAS Learning Research Programme (LRP) is a four year project, which aims
to produce research-based learning from the DELTAS research capacity building initiative about
how to train and develop world-class researchers, equitably foster their careers and collaborations,
and promote research uptake. One of the three key objectives of the project, to be achieved through
this PhD is to generate and share robust evidence about how to promote equitable career pathways
for internationally competitive African researchers including women and other under-represented
groups. Female scientists are increasingly under-represented at each stage of the scientific career
ladder and women are significantly under-represented among African academic staff and decision-
making bodies. Little is known about career outcomes for other under-represented groups (e.g.
people with disabilities; ethnic, religious or regional minorities).
Potential questions to be addressed include:
Where are the critical leak points along the career pathway? What could help under-represented
groups to transition across these points successfully?
Do current policies match their needs and those of their employers and how are they
implemented in practice?
Are there any biases in the current criteria and processes for selecting and promoting individuals
with potential to be excellent researchers and/or research leaders? How can the processes for
PhD selection and researcher promotion be improved to identify early and equitably those who
will eventually demonstrate ‘research excellence’?
Main duties: To work under the supervision of LSTM researchers to design, conduct and write-up
a mixed methods but primarily qualitative PhD study on the barriers and enablers to gender equitable
career pathways in health research in African research institutions. Specific tasks to be conducted
with the support of supervisors include:
Design and conduct literature searches, collect and analyse literature and write literature reviews
on gender equitable career pathways in research internationally and in Africa specifically
Design a study guided by the literature review to explore the issue of gender equitable career
pathways in African research institutions participating in the DELTAS programme
Design instruments appropriate to the study
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
25
Draft ethics protocols for the study for the LSTM Research Ethics Committee and appropriate
local ethics review boards and respond to queries
Collect data and/or constitute a small research team as per study requirements and conduct
training and supervision of data collection activities
Conduct analysis of all data and use this as a basis for writing PhD thesis
Draft a minimum of 2 papers based on PhD literature reviews and data
Contribute to the development of other research outputs such as web-pages and blogs
Participate in annual training and other related activities as part of PhD requirements
Attend LRP meetings (usually on virtual basis – e.g. through Skype) wherever required
Attend and present findings (as they emerge) to annual DELTAS meetings and other
appropriate forums.
Duration: The PhD scholarship will be for a duration of three years, commencing in the second half
of 2016.
Eligibility: Only citizens of African nations will be considered for this role.
Location: This is an ‘off-site’ LSTM PhD scholarship. The successful candidate will be based at an
appropriate African research institution to be determined based on the country of residence and
affiliation of the successful candidate.
Award: The scholarship includes course fees, living stipend and a training allowance.
Application: If you are interested in applying, please submit: 1) a completed application form
(template attached); 2) two academic references (template attached); 3) an ‘expression of interest’
letter detailing how you meet the listed ‘person specification’ criteria; 4) a curriculum vitae; and 5)
copies of tertiary level educational certificates.
All documents should be submitted by email to: [email protected]
Closing date: All applications must be received by Friday 27th May 2016, 12 midnight GMT
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
26
Person Specification:
PhD in gender equitable career pathways in health research in Africa
Criteria Competencies Essential
Desirable
Assessment
Education &
Training
Masters in a social science discipline (such as sociology,
anthropology, development studies, geography, Public
Administration, management or women’s studies) with a
specific component focusing on gender and/or
institutional or human resource development, and a
research skills component.
E
Application
Form/CV
Experience Experience in conducting research in the area of gender
equity (including a Masters’ research project)
Health or development research experience in an
African country.
Experience in academic paper writing/ evidence of
published paper authorship
E
D
D
Application
Form,
Assessment
and
Interview
Skills &
Abilities
Gender and equity analysis.
Applied qualitative research skills.
Good communication skills.
Excellent academic writing skills in English.
Windows-based computing skills (spreadsheets, word
processing).
Demonstrable analytic skills.
Attention to detail.
Institutional analysis
Research-grant proposal writing.
Basic quantitative analysis skills.
Skills in using qualitative data analysis software.
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
D
D
D
D
Assessment
and
Interview
Knowledge Gender and development or management in low or
middle income countries.
Human resources and/or institutional development in low
and middle income countries
E
E
Assessment
and Interview
Special
Aptitude
Diplomacy - able to work with a range of people in a
multicultural environment.
Adaptable.
Ability to work independently.
E
E
E
E
Assessment
and Interview
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
27
Enthusiastic approach to work.
Circumstances Must be willing to travel overseas occasionally
Must be based at an African University or research
institution
E
E
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
28
Post: PhD Scholarship, Research Uptake
Responsible to: Prof. Collins Ouma, African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP),
Nairobi, Kenya.
Summary of role: Complete a PhD thesis examining barriers and enablers to health
research uptake in an African context.
Background: The DELTAS Learning Research Programme (LRP) is a four-year project, which aims
to produce research-based learning from the DELTAS research capacity building initiative. One of
the three key objectives of the project, to be achieved through this PhD programme, is to generate
and share robust evidence about how to promote effective research uptake. In Africa, research
uptake for decision-making is weak due to supply- and demand-side bottlenecks. Much research is
untimely, not pro-poor and irrelevant to knowledge needs of decision-makers and the public because
of limited interaction between producers and users of research when conceptualizing research
questions. Supply-side research is fragmented across many scientific journals and researchers lack
skills to synthesise and package it appropriately for decision-makers. Research competes with
values, politics and personal interests to inform policy decisions and policymakers may lack
motivation and skills to access, appraise and apply research findings. There is limited evidence
about the most effective strategies (e.g. social media, private sector partnerships) to close the gap
between research generation, policies and programmes.
Potential questions to be addressed include:
How are pro-poor priorities incorporated (or not) into DELTAS health research programmes?
What mechanisms work best or do not work best for research uptake and what is the strength of the evidence generated?
What are the contextual and individual factors that have enabled some researchers to be highly successful in influencing policy and research uptake?
Main duties: To work under the supervision of LSTM and AFIDEP researchers to design, conduct
and write-up a mixed methods PhD study examining barriers and enablers to health research uptake
in an African context. Specific tasks to be conducted with the support of supervisors include:
Design and conduct literature searches, collect and analyse literature and write literature
reviews on research uptake internationally and in Africa specifically
Design a study guided by the literature review to explore the issue of research uptake in African research institutions participating in the DELTAS programme
Design instruments appropriate to the study
Draft ethics protocols for the study for the LSTM Research Ethics Committee and appropriate local ethics review boards and respond to queries
Collect data and/or constitute a small research team as per study requirements and conduct training and supervision of data collection activities
Conduct analysis of all data and use this as a basis for writing PhD thesis
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
29
Draft a minimum of 2 papers based on PhD literature reviews and data
Contribute to the development of other research outputs such as web-pages and blogs
Participate in annual training and other related activities as part of PhD requirements
Attend LRP meetings (usually on virtual basis – e.g. through Skype) wherever required
Attend and present findings (as they emerge) to annual DELTAS meetings and other appropriate forums.
Duration: The PhD scholarship will be for a duration of three years, commencing in the second half
of 2016.
Eligibility: Only citizens of African nations will be considered for this role.
Location: This is an ‘off-site’ LSTM PhD scholarship. The successful candidate will be based at
AFIDEP, Nairobi, Kenya. However, consideration may be given to an alternative host institution
located elsewhere in Africa depending on the country of residence and affiliation of the successful
candidate.
Award: The scholarship includes course fees, living stipend and a training allowance.
Application: If you are interested in applying, please submit: 1) a completed application form
(template attached); 2) two academic references (template attached); 3) an ‘expression of interest’
letter detailing how you meet the listed ‘person specification’ criteria; 4) a curriculum vitae; and 5)
copies of tertiary level educational certificates.
All documents should be submitted by email to: [email protected]
Closing date: All applications must be received by Friday 27th May 2016, 12 midnight GMT
DELTAS LRP Inception Phase Report
30
Person Specification:
PhD in health research uptake in an African context
Criteria Competencies Essential
Desirable
Assessment
Education &
Training
Masters in a relevant discipline (e.g. sociology,
anthropology, communication, development studies,
geography, public administration or management)
E
Application
Form/CV
Experience
Health or development research experience in an
African country.
Experience in academic paper writing/ evidence of
published paper authorship
D
D
Application
Form,
Assessment
and
Interview
Skills &
Abilities
Applied qualitative research skills.
Good communication skills.
Excellent academic writing skills in English.
Windows-based computing skills (spreadsheets, word
processing).
Demonstrable analytic skills.
Attention to detail.
Institutional analysis
Research-grant proposal writing.
Basic quantitative analysis skills.
Skills in using qualitative data analysis software.
E
E
E
E
E
E
D
D
D
D
Assessment
and
Interview
Knowledge Communication or knowledge transfer skills and
processes.
Human resources and/or institutional development in low
and middle income countries
D
D
Assessment
and Interview
Special
Aptitude
Diplomacy - able to work with a range of people in a
multicultural environment.
Adaptable.
Ability to work independently.
Enthusiastic approach to work.
E
E
E
E
Assessment
and Interview
Circumstances Must be willing to travel overseas occasionally E